Unitary refrigerated carbonated beverage dispensing apparatus



Jan. 13, 1948. 2,434,374

R. H. TULL UNITARY REFRIGERATED CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1943 2 She'ets-Sheet l v mvsmon ROBERT H. TULL.

BY 2, 7 Anon zv Jan. 13, 1948. u 2,434,374

UNITARY REFRIGERATED CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

INVEN'I'OR I Roasn'r H. TuLL.

lTI'OR Patented E3, 1948 UNITARY REFRIGERATED CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSING'APPABATUS Robert H. Tull, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 1, 1943, Serial No. 489,264

1:. Claims. (01. 62-441) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus,

and particularly to apparatus for dispensing a cold,,mixed carbonated beverage through a dispensing valve. I

An object of the invention is to provide a relatively small, compact unitary container, within the confines of which are disposed chambers forcooling and carbonating the water component of a mixed beverage and for storing and cooling the syrup component of the same beverage.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a unitary, compact dispensing apparatus capable of supplying any one of a plurality of cold, mixed carbonated beverages as selected by the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to pro vide a compact unitary container provided with storage and carbonating chambers within its confines, together with a single refrigerant cooling element, also disposed within the container and adapted to cool the component parts of the bever- 2 is provided an assembly which may be refrigerated by a single refrigerating element disposed within the container. Heat losses which would be experienced with several. separate units are avoided and a uniform temperature of all components of the beverage at the time of delivery is achieved.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsyforming a part of this application,in which;

Fig. l is a vertical section and elevation, partly diagrammatic, of the compact refrigerating and carbonating unit; I a

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 11-11 of Fi 1: and

age, the carbonating apparatus and the dispensing valve.

- The invention also includes an improved means for carbonating water particularly adapted for use in a compact, unitary container of the type hereinafter described.

The invention further provides a compact, unitary cooling and dispensing container in which a single refrigerant cooling element is disposed or sandwiched" between the liquid cooling chambers provided in the-container, so that the refrigerating effect of the cooling element is used to the. best advantage.

Another object is to provide a compact, unitary pended partly or entirely upon precooling a large reservoir of liquid at a relatively slow rate or storage capacity suflicient for peak load conditions and means for maintaining the water in the storage tank cool during the oil-peak Period. By combining the carbonator with the liquid cooler in a single, compact unitary container, there upon instantaneous cooling of small quantities of liquid as it is dispensed. Apparatus made aocording to the present invention provides cooled Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

The illustrated apparatus includes a cabinet ID for housing'the apparatuathe latter including a compact, unitary structural container A comprising a water-cooling and storage receptacle .l I. a heat-absorbing unit or refrigerant evaporator |2 within the receptacle II, and a carbonating, cooling, and storage receptacle IS within the evaporator II. A carbon dioxide expansion tube II, which is open at the .top, forms a gas expansion chamber within the receptacle l3; and a pipe ii for uncarbonated water is positioned within the tube It. The pipe i5 conducts water upward and discharges it over an unbrella-shaped spreader plate; ii.

The unitary container assembly A thus is di-. vided into a plurality of annular chambers surroundingthe pipe [5, which in their order or arrangement from the pipe l5 outward comprise a gas expansion chamber l8 within the tube il, a carbonating, cooling and storage chamber it within the receptacle IS, an evaporator chamber 20 within the cooling unit l2, and a liquid cooling and storage chamber 2i within the receptacle I l. The upper subchamber 22 of the outer chamher It is used for storing water and the lower part is preferably subdivided to form a plurality of storage chambers 23, 24, and "for other liquids such as syrups. The storage chambers 23, 24 and 25 are unnecessary if the water is to be dispensed without the addition of any other ingredient, such as flavoring or syrup. In Fig. 1, h ori-' zontal partitions 26 and 21 are shown as separating the chambers at diflerent levels, and in Fig. 3. a vertical partition 28' is shown as separating the chambers 24 and 25 which'are on the same I 22, by a pressure-responsive switch 320. Switch 320 is initially set so that the pressure in chamber 22 is always higher in that chamber than in carbonating chamber l3, thus ensuring the flow of water from storage chamber 22 to the carbonating chamber. The water flows down through staggered holes 33 in a plurality of flooded bafile plates 34 to prevent undue mixing of warmer water with colder water; and the colder water leaves by way of an outlet pipe 35 which connects with the pipe IS. The baflle plates 34, which are made of metal, are provided with apertures 34a at their central portions so that these plates fit snugly over the outer wall of the cylindrical evaporator unit l2. As these apertures are formed, an upturned flange 34b'may be provided adlacent the apertures 34a to assist in centering the plates on the ,cuter wall of the evaporator unit. The upturned flanges 34b may be metaliically united to the outer evaporator wall as by welding or soldering so as to afford good thermal contact between the baflle plate 34 and the refrigerant unit l2. Thus it will be seen that the plates 34, in addition to serving as baiiles for the incoming water, also act as fins or extended surfaces for conducting heat from the incoming water to the refrigerant evaporator or heat-absorbing unit l2.

A valve 36 controlled by a float 31 regulates the flow of water through the pipe l to maintain the level of carbonated water in the bottom of chamber I9 at the desired point. Carbonated water leaves the bottom of chamber |9 by way of an outlet pipe 40 and flows to a dispensin nozzle 4|, a valve 42 being employed to control the flow.

Syrup is supplied to the syrup storage chambers 23, 24 and 25 through fllling pipes 43 provided with sealing closure caps 44. Metallic baiiie plates 45 are disposed in the upper syrup storage chamber 23, these plates being welded or soldered at their inner and outer edges to the adjacent tank walls and thus serving as fins or extended surfacesfrom the outer wall of cooling unit l2 to the interior of chamber 23. They are provided at their edges with staggered holes 46. Syrup leaves the tank 23 by way of an outlet pipe 41 and flows to the dispensing nozzle 4|, a valve 48 being employed to control the flow. Syrup leaves the tank 24 by way of an outlet pipe 5| and flows to the dispensing nozzle 4|, a valve 52 being employed to control. the flow.

Syrup leaves the tank 25 by way of an outlet top of the chamber by an outlet pipe 58. The

refrigerant system illustrated includes a'motorcompressor unit 59 and a condenser Bil operatively connected to the evaporator element l2. Operation of the refrigerant system is controlled by a thermal-responsive element 42 in the bottom of the water cooling chamber 2|. This controls the motor-compressor unit 53 through a pressure-operated snap-acting switch 53. Chilled water from the cooling chamber 22, which has been spread out at the top of the carbonating chamberl9, encounters expanding carbon dioxide gas issuing from the upper end of tube l4 and carbonation begins. Insteadof supplying the gas to the top of the chamber, it may be supplied at the bottom of the chamber to flow upward against .the flow of water. A plurality of alternately inclined metallic plates 65 have staggered openings 66 through which the liquid and carbon dioxide flow in passing down to the bottom of the tank. The openings are located in the higher edges of the plates whereby to form shallow pools of liquid which will readily absorb carbon dioxide. The openings are formed by striking out tabs 61 from metal plates. The edges of the plates are provided with bent flanges 68 by which they are spaced apart, the flanges beingwelded or soldered to the adjacent evaporator wall, if desired. They may be formed as spring elements which engage the tank walls 'frlctionally. Alternate plates are alike.

These plates-65 thus serve, as do the plates 34 and 45, as extended surfaces to conduct heat from the interior of carbonating chamber is to the inner wall of the cooling unit l2.

Carbon dioxide is supplied to the bottom of the expansion tube H by a supply pipe 10 leading from a pressure tank 1|, one or more reducing valves 12 and pressure gauges 13 being provided in the line. Pressure for forcing syrup from the chambers 23, 24, 25 is provided by connecting supply pipes 14 from the tops of the chambers to the carbon dioxide supply line, a reducing valve 15 and a pressure gauge 16 being provided in the line.

A shelf 80 is provided beneath the dispensing nozzle 4l for cups 8|, a drain pipe 82 being provided for removing any liquid which may spill.

In operation, the upper outer tank 22 is kept full of water which is-to be carbonated. This water is cooled by the evaporator unit l2 and plates 34 to a predetermined temperature and the cooled water is drawn into the carbonator as required, as for example, to replenish that which has been dispensed. A considerable quantity of water is kept cooled at all times ready to be drawn as fast as drinks can be dispensed. The syrups in the lower containers are also cooled in storage as well as when being drawn for use.

The single refrigerant heat-absorbing unit I2 is in thermal heat-absorbing relationship with all of the liquid chambers, the carbonator, and the dispensing valve, as all of the aforesaid parts are made of metal, affording a compact, unitary heat-exchanging container.

The combination assembly hereby provided is very simple and compact; is very emcient and economical; and maintains very uniform tempera.-

ture conditions for all of the components Of the drink. g

This application is, in part, a continuation of my earlier application Serial No. 47 0,751, filed December 31, 1942, which application has become abandoned.

While I have shown my invention in but one .form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore,

that only such limitations shall be placed thereasses" What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage through a dispensing valve assembly, the combination of a unitary, structural container having partition means provided interiorly thereof for dividing the container into a chamber in which a syrup component is cooled, a chamber in which a water com-' ponent is precooled. and a chamber in which the precooled water component is further cooled and carbonated, and a mechanical refrigerating system including a single refrigerantheat-absorbing unit disposed in one of said chambers and in thermal heat-absorbing relation with each of the other chambers, whereby to maintain said chambers and their contents at a temperature sumciently low to produce a palatable mixed beverage.

2. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage through a dispensing valve assembly, the combination of a unitary, structural container having partition means provided interiorly-thereof for dividing the container into a chamber in which a syrup component is cooled, a chamber in which a water component is precooled, and a chamber in which pensing valve assembly. the combination of a unitary structural container, partition .walls inside the container for dividing it into a carbonating receptacles water receptacle and a syrup rethe precooled water component is further cooled and carbonated, and a mechanical refrigerating system including a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit disposed within the confines of said container for absorbing heat from all of said chambers,- said heat-absorbing unit at least partially surrounding the walls of one of said chambers and being in heat exchange relation with the other of said chambers. with at least one of said other chambers surrounding said heat-absorbing unit;

3. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage through a dispensing valve assembly, the combination of a unitary, structural container having partition means provided interiorly thereof for dividing the container into a chamber in which a syrup com-- ponent is cooled, a chamber in which a water component is precooled, and a chamber in which the precooled water component is further cooled and carbonated, and a mechanical refrigerating system including a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit disposed within the confines of said container. and out of contact with the external walls thereof, for absorbing heat from all of said chambers, said heat-absorbing unit at least partially surrounding the walls of one of said chambers and being in heat exchange relation with the other of said chambers, with at least one of said 'other chambers surrounding said heat-absorbing unit.

4. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage through a dispensing valve assembly, the combination of a unitary structural container, within the walls of which are disposed a water receptacle, a syrup re-. ceptacle and a carbonating receptacle, a mechanical refrigerating system including a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit having atleast the major portion of its heat transfer surfaces disposed within the confines of the container, said heat-- absorbing unit at least partially surrounding one of said receptaclesand disposed between that receptacle and another of said receptacles, whereby to maintain all ofsaid receptacles at a temperature sufficiently low to produce a palatable mixed beverage. I

5. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage through a disceptacle, said carbonating receptacle being entirely disposed in the container, said water receptacle surrounding the carbonating receptacle and being in thermal conducting relation with the syrup receptacle. a mechanical refrigerating system including a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit interposed between the water receptacle and the carbonating receptacle to absorb, heat from both said receptacles and from the syrup receptacle, whereby to maintain all of said receptacles at a temperature sufiiciently low to produce a palatable mixed beverage.

6. In apparatus for storing and dispensing a cold, mixed, carbonated beverage througha dispensing valve assembly, the combination of a unitary, structural container having partition means provided interiorly thereoffor dividing the container into a chamber in which a syrup component is cooled, a chamber in which a water component is precooled, and a chamber in which the -precooled water component is further cooled and carbonated, means for maintaining the pressure in the precooling chamber higher than that in the carbonating chamber, anda mechanical refrigeratlng system including a single refrigerant heatabsorbing unit disposed in one of said chambers and in thermal heat-absorbing relation with each of the other chambers, whereby to maintain said chambers and their contents at a temperature sufllciently low to produce a palatable mixed beverage. a

7. In apparatus for dispensing a cold, carbonated beverage and for cooling and carbonating a component of the beverage, a unitary, heat-exchanging container having partition means for dividing the container into an inner carbonating chamber. an outer water-cooling chamber, and a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit disposed between the two aforesaid chambers, heat transfer plates disposed in thermal contact with the heat-absorbing unit and extending into the water-cooling chamber, other heat transfer plates also in thermal contact with the heat-absorbing unit and extending into the carbonating chamber, all of said plates presenting extended surfaces for absorbing heat from water flowing thereover, means for conveying'cooled water from the outer cooling chamber to the carbonating chamber, a carbon dioxide gas inlet means to the carbonating chamber, and means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in the carbonating chamber below the gas inlet thereto.

8. In apparatus for dispensing a cold, carbonated beverage and for cooling and carbonating a component part of the beverage, a unitary, structural container having partition means for dividing the container into an inner carbonating chamber, an outer water-cooling chamber, and a refrigerant heat-absorbing unit disposed between the two aforesaid chambers, heat transfer plates ating chamber. a carbon dioxide gas'inlet means asses-74 the liquid cooling chamber, cooling plates secured in thermal contact with the inner wall of the redividing the container into a centrally disposed chamber and a second chamber disposed about the central chamber, both of said chambers being adapted to retain water to be cooled, means provided in one of said chambers for carbonating the water therein, said container also having partition walls defining a chamber disposed out-f wardly of but adjacent to the central chamber for retaining syrup to be cooled, refrigerant heatabsorbing means disposed adjacent the periphery frigerant chamber and extending transversely of the carbonating, chamber, said carbonating chamber plates being set at an inclination to retain a body of refrigerated carbonated liquid thereon, means-for supplying liquid to said liquid cooling chamber, means for transferring refrigerated liquid from said water cooiingchamber to the top of said carbonating chamber, means for supplying carbon dioxide to the top of said carbonating chamber, and means for withdrawing refrigerated carbonated liquid from the bot- ;tom of said carbonating chamber.

of the central chamber and in heat transfer rela-.. 1

tion with each of the other said chambers, and means for transferring cooled water from one of said water chambers to the other.

10. Refrigerating and carbonating apparatus comprising in combination, an annular carbonating container, an annular refrigerant container surrounding said carbonating container, an annular liquid cooling chamber surrounding said refrigerant container, 'said refrigerant container being in intimateheat-exchange relation with both the carbonating container and the liquid cooling chamber, thermal-conducting elements extending from the walls of said carbonating container and said liquid cooling chamber to the interior spaces thereof, a carbon dioxide inlet means to the carbonating chamber, and means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in the carbonating chamber below the gas inlet thereto.

11. Refrigerating and carbonating apparatus comprising in combination, an interior carbon dioxide expansion tube which is open at the top and provided with means for supplying carbon dioxide at the bottom, a water supply pipe extending upward through said tube, means for spreading the water at the upper end of the supply pipe, w,alls defining a carbonating chamber surrounding said tube and supply pipe, walls defining separate storage chambers for water and flavoring surrounding said carbonating chamber, means for supplying water to the top of said water chamber, means for baffling the inflow of water at the top of said water chamber, and means for passing water from the bottom of said water storage chamber tothe top of said carbonating chamber.

12. Refrigerating and carbonating apparatus comprising in combination, an interior carbonating chamber, an exterior liquid cooling chamber spaced from the carbonating chamber to form a refrigerant chamber therebetween, means for supplying refrigerant to and removing it from said refrigerant chamber, cooling plates secured in thermal contact with the outer wall of the refrigerant chamber and extending transversely of 13. Refrigerating and carbonating apparatus comprising in combination, an'interior carbonating chamber, an exterior liquid cooling chamber spaced from the carbonating chamber to form a refrigerant chamber therebetween, means for supplying refrigerant to and removing it from said refrigerant chamber, cooling plates secured in thermal contact with the outer wall of ,the refrigerant chamber and extending transversely of the liquid cooling chamber, cooling plates secured in thermal contact with the inner wall of the refrigerant chamber and extending transversely of the carbonating chamber, said carbonating chamber plates being set at an inclination to retain a body of refrigerated carbonated liquid thereon, means for supplying liquid to said liquid cooling chamber, means for transferring refrigerated liquid from said liquid cooling chamber to the top of said carbonating chamber, means for supplying carbon dioxide to said carbonating chamber, and means for withdrawing refrigerated carbonated liquid from the bottom of said carbonating chamber, said carbonating chamber plates being formed with angularly-bent edge flanges which engage the adjacent wall and which form abutting spacers between plates.

ROBERT H. TULL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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